Bookseller/Librarian Delegation to Visit Beijing Book Fair

BookExpo America (BEA) is leading a delegation of American booksellers and librarians who will visit the domestic Beijing Book Fair, in Beijing, China, from January 8 - 11, 2008. The group will also take part in a panel discussion focusing on bookselling and other book industry issues and will visit two Chinese publishing houses and four Chinese bookstores. The invitation was presented to BEA officials by Sichuan Xinhua Winshare Chainstore Co., Ltd and China Publishing Today.

"I am extremely happy to have been able to facilitate this expedition," said Lance Fensterman, BEA event director. "This opportunity is a direct reflection of the ties that BEA has worked hard to strengthen over the past several years within the Chinese publishing community." He also noted that Chinese publishers are expected to have a greater presence at BEA 2008 as result of those efforts.

The members of the American delegation are Karl Pohrt, founder and owner of Shaman Drum Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Rick Simonson of the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle; Barbara Genco of the Brooklyn Public Library; Nancy Pearl, librarian, author, and book reviewer; Sarah McNally, owner of McNally Robinson in New York City; Allison Hill of Vroman's Bookstore in Los Angeles; and Paul Yamazaki of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.

Look for Karl Pohrt's account of the delegation's visit to the Beijing Book Fair in an upcoming edition of Bookselling This Week.